Hugh McCulloch

Hugh McCulloch
27th and 36th United States Secretary of the Treasury
In office October 31, 1884 – March 7, 1885
President	Chester A. Arthur
Preceded by	Walter Q. Gresham
Succeeded by	Daniel Manning
In office March 9, 1865 – March 3, 1869
President	Abraham Lincoln Andrew Johnson
Preceded by	William P. Fessenden
Succeeded by	George S. Boutwell
Comptroller of the Currency
In office February 25, 1863 – March 9, 1865
President	Abraham Lincoln
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Freeman Clarke
Personal details
Born	(1808-12-07)December 7, 1808 Kennebunk, Maine, U.S.
Died	May 24, 1895(1895-05-24) (aged 86) Prince George's County, Maryland, U.S.
Political party	Republican
Residence	Hugh McCulloch House
Education	Bowdoin College
Signature

Hugh McCulloch (December 7, 1808 – May 24, 1895) was an American financier who played a central role in financing the American Civil War. He served two non-consecutive terms as U.S. Treasury Secretary under three presidents. He was originally opposed to the creation of a system of national banks, but his reputation as head of the Bank of Indiana from 1857 to 1863 persuaded the Treasury to bring him in to supervise the new system as Comptroller of the Currency 1863–1865. As Secretary of the Treasury 1865–1869 he reduced and funded the gigantic Civil War debt of the union, and reestablished the federal taxation system across the former Confederate States of America. He tried but failed to make a rapid return to the gold standard.

He was the last surviving member of the Lincoln Cabinet.